Business Steps into the Classroom to Close Skills Gap

Employers are stepping up their connections with schools and working with students to improve job skills and prepare them for the world of work, according to new research published this week (21st January).

The Closing the Gap report by The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) highlights a significant increase in the level of business engagement in schools and colleges.

The Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed the report and reaffirmed its commitment to encouraging the private sector across Greater Lincolnshire to work more closely with schools.

The Greater Lincolnshire LEP employs three Enterprise Coordinators who work to build strategic relationships with schools across the county and help improve existing careers provision.

Ongoing projects include the Give an Hour scheme and a dedicated website exploring The World of Work.

Nationally, the report found that more young people are meeting employers: 80% of young people are now benefiting from meeting employers every year and two thirds (66%) are learning through work experience.

It says consistent and definitive progress is being made towards the overall target of four million young people meeting employers and one million having work experience every year.

Pat Doody, Acting Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, commented: “This is great news for the UK as a whole and for young people in Lincolnshire who are clearly starting to benefit from closer relationships with their local employers and businesses.

“We believe that a successful economy needs businesses, and schools and colleges, to work more closely together on this issue and we now employ three Enterprise Coordinators who are engaging with business leaders.

“We are supporting this national effort in a number of ways: we have created the World of Work website to inform young people and challenge perceptions about the workplace; we’ve developed the Enterprise Adviser Network to help businesses support schools with their careers advice; and we’re encouraging business people to Give An Hour to make a difference to the future career choices that a young person in Greater Lincolnshire makes.

“However, we know that there is much more work to be done in this area and we are up for the challenge of meeting the national targets and improving the preparedness of young people for the world of work.”

Gavin Williamson MP, Secretary of State for Education, said: “It is incredibly encouraging to see so many businesses coming together to deliver so much for their local communities.

“This Government has set out an ambitious vision for careers education. We want all young people to have regular, inspiring, meaningful interactions with the world of work.

“Achieving this will help businesses broaden and diversify their talent pipeline. But it’s also about inspiring young people, promoting social mobility and giving every young person the opportunity to succeed.”